In talking with our clients about fitness, there is one thing we agree on which is key, but that a trainer can’t give you. Motivation. We can certainly encourage motivation in many ways, but it really always has to come from the person doing the training, and not from the trainer. In this blog post we want to explore a common thread that we feel is sometimes missing in training, but motivates us to try new things, and to keep coming back for more. So, today we’re talking about fun.
Fun in fitness isn’t a new concept for any of us. Afterall, every day that we had recess in elementary school, those were intervals of fitness. Somewhere along the way in our fitness life, our thinking seemed to change. From seeing jungle gyms as fun, but pullups as chores, and jump rope and hopscotch as fun, but plyometric jumps as torture. Granted getting older isn’t fun, and the variety in which our bodies age and degrade in time, doesn’t help us to think of fitness in a positive light. What we have to remember, is that fitness will help us more as we age, to make us more immune to injury, and to help fight off sickness and disease. With that in mind, it’s important to try to keep fitness fun for ourselves, so that we stay consistent in our training, and we don’t die of boredom.
Even though fitness can improve health, posture, balance, strength, as well as aid depression, and help with insomnia, lets’ put that aside and focus on the fun. Social gatherings seem to the best way to introduce fun into fitness. Whether gatherings with friends doing a pick up game, group hikes, group classes, or obstacle courses, these are trending and motivating newcomers to make fitness part of a regular routine. However, if you’re not into group dynamics, or prefer fitness to be done with one person, or just yourself, trainers can teach a variety of ways to make you forget that you’re doing exercise, and just present you with fun challenges or games. Those challenges might be doing drills, balance acts, and partner exercises. While games can be done in a variety of those challenges mixed together, to create a solid 45 minutes of mixed cardio and strength training. Don’t feel contained by the gym being your only place to get exercise. There are so many places to go while exercising at the same time, whether biking, swimming, rowing, golfing, acrobatics, or trampoline, try something that is challenging and fun. That challenge, can lead to learning more exercises, to help whatever you choose to be less challenging, and more fun. Be a big kid, and get out there, and play!
It’s important to have a sense of humor about fitness. If an exercise looks funny, and you think of a funny name for it, then call it that. If you want to wear a pair of leggings, shorts or tank top that makes you giggle, then wear it proudly. Remember at all times, you are doing exercise for you, and to make your life better. So, there’s no reason why it can’t be fun. Afterall, you’re probably going to make someone else smile while working out too, and then your motivation becomes theirs as well. Crank up the music on your headphones, and have fun!